Jitender Dabas promoted as EVP, planning at McCann Erickson

He was senior vice-president and head, planning. His additional mandate will be to manage McCann Bengaluru's strategic planning.

Jitender Dabas, who joined McCann Erickson Delhi in January 2011 from JWT India, has been promoted as executive vice-president, planning at the agency. Earlier, he was senior vice-president and head, planning, McCann Erickson.

Prasoon Joshi, executive chairman and CEO, McCann Worldgroup India and president, McCann Worldgroup South Asia, says, "I am happy to announce that in addition to his current responsibilities, Dabas will oversee the planning function of our Bengaluru office. Dabas has demonstrated extraordinary commitment and passion, apart from sheer skill in understanding of brands and shaping up a formidable strategic planning team in our Delhi operations in a short span of time. I am positive that he will bring tremendous value to our Bengaluru clients and operations as well. This promotion is well deserved."

A product of IIT Delhi, Dabas has spent over 15 years in the advertising and communication industry. He started as an account management executive with FCB Ulka, moved on to strategic planning at Grey and finally, joined JWT India at its Delhi branch. He has been at JWT for the past five years.

At JWT, Dabas had worked on major accounts such as Hero Honda, Nokia, Pepsi Foods, Sony and Congress.

Earlier, he has worked on Airtel DTH, Pizza Hut, GE Money, SBI Cards, Hyundai, Compaq, Mother Dairy, Arvind Brands and Apollo tyres. Dabas has been a winner of WPP's prestigious Atticus award for original thinking in 2007.

McCann Erickson recently roped Dhiren Amin of BBH as group planning director. His mandate is to head the planning function for the agency's Mumbai office.